Creel



Dec. 24, 1963 c. K, DUNLAP, JR., ETAL 3,115,315

CREEL Filed Feb. 25, 1961 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 CHARLES K. DUNLAEJR. anaWILLIAM T. STANLEY,

INVENTORS ATTORNEY 1963 c. K. DUNLAP, JR., ETAL 3,115,315

CREEL Filed Feb. 25, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 CHARLES KISDNLARJR. and WILUAM T. fiTANLEY, 5b INVENTORS ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1963 c. K. DUNLAP, JR., ETAL 3,115,315

CREEL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 23, 1961 INVENTORSZ CHARLES K. BUNLARI and WILUAM T. STANLEY ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,ll5,3l Patented Dec. 24, 1963 3,115,315 CREEL Charles K. Dunlap, Jim, and William 'lI. Stanley, Hartsville, Sail, assignors to Sonoco Products Company, Hartsviilc, 8.48., a corporation of South Carolina Filed Feb. 23, E61, Ser. No. QLMZ 3 Claims. (Cl. 242-64) This invention relates to unwinding apparatus and more particularly to a creel for supporting a plurality of rolls of paper for simultaneous unwinding.

In the manufacture of spirally wound, multi-ply paper tubes, the paper plies used in the formation of the tubes are continuously unwound from relatively large rolls of paper suitably supported on a stand or creel. As the plies are unwound, adhesive is applied therebetween and the plies are helically wound onto a tube making mandrel in overlapping relationship to continuously form the spirally wound paper tube. As is well known, the paper plies or strips employed in the formation of such tubes may be of any number, generally two to fifteen, in accordance with the tube thickness desired, and in order to eliminate interruption to the tube winding operation, relatively large diameter paper rolls are utilized. These rolls, which range in diameter from 50" to 6'0" and up are generally supported on a horizontal axis on rods or skewers projecting laterally outward on either side of an elongated frame. These rods pass through the center of the rolls and position in the paper rolls on each side of the frame in a tandem relationship.

As a result of the relatively large number of rolls which such creels are frequently required to support together with the large diameter of such rolls, these creels are very heavy and complicated in construction and occupy considerable iioor space. With the high present day cost of manufacturing area, this use of floor space, which could be put to more productive uses, adds substantially to the cost of the tube winding operation. As is well known, it is generally necessary to shift the position of such present day creels to make adjustments in the angle of wind for various types of spiral tubes. This changing of the position of the creel so as to align it with the tube winding apparatus is a time consuming operation due to the weight and bulk of the creel adding further to the manufacturing cost.

The use of such present day creels wherein the paper rolls are supported on a horizontal axis is characterized by further difficulties. The length of such creels and the tandem arrangement of the paper rolls makes the threadingof the paper strips around the guide bars on the creel a diflicult and time consuming operation. Furthermore, considerable walking is required of the operator as he effects the threading of all of the paper rolls. Each time a paper roll is replaced on the creel during the winding operation, the roll retaining devices must be removed and replaced and out-of-round paper rolls being unwound on the creel tend to unwind in a jerky manner.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide a new and novel creel for supporting a plurality of rolls of strip material for simultaneous unwinding.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and novel creel for supporting a plura ity of rolls of paper so that all of the paper rolls can be simultaneously unwound smoothly for use in a spiral tube making operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and novel creel for a plurality of rolls of paper which is simple and compact in construction so as to require only a minimum of floor space and which permits the paper strips to be positioned for unwinding in a simple and easy manner.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and novel creel for supporting a plurality of rolls of paper for unwinding in a spiral tube making operation which permits the angle at which the paper strips are fed to the tube making apparatus to be readily adjusted in a simple and easy manner without the necessity of changing the location of the creel on the floor.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and novel creel for rolls of paper used in a spiral tube making operation which permits the paper rolls to be replaced and spliced in a simple and easy manner without interrupting the tube making operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The objects stated above and other related objects in this invention are accomplished by the provision of a creel having support means preferably in the form of an upstanding post positioned on a base. Support members are pivotally mounted at one end to the post in vertically space-d parallel relationship for pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane. Freely rota-table roll supporting means are provided on the outer end of each of the support members which support a roll of paper for rotation on a substantially vertical axis. Each of the support members are pivotally movable into an unwinding position with the rolls in a vertical overlying relationship and preferably in two groups on opposite sides of the post. In the unwinding position, all of the paper ro-lls can be simultaneously unwound for utilization of the paper strips in a spiral tube winding operation. Each of the support members may also be pivoted into a loading position clear of the overlying support members and associated roll supporting means for receiving a new roll of paper. In the loading position, the new roll of paper is positioned on the roll supporting means and spliced to the preceding roll without interrupting the unwinding operation. The support member with the new roll on its roll supporting means may then be moved back to the unwinding position.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a creel constructed in accordance with the invention illustrating the creel in operation;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view of the creel of the invention taken in the direction of the arrow 2 of FIG- URE l;

FlGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 33 of FIGURE 2 in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIGURE 3 in the direction of the arrows;

FEGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of FIGURE 1 in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line s-s of FIGURE 1 in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 7 is an isometric view of the creel taken in the direction of the arrow '7 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings and to FIGURES 1-3 in particular, the creel of the invention shown therein is particularly adapted to be used in association with spiral paper tube winding apparatus. As is well known, such tube winding apparatus is arranged to helically wind a plurality of strips or plies of paper with adhesive therebetween in an overlapping manner on a mandrel to continuously form a multi-ply paper tube. It should be unden stood, however, that the creel of the invention may be adapted for use with any type of apparatus which is to be continuously supplied with one or more strips of material such as paper or the like.

The creel of the invention comprises support means such as an upstanding center post ll which is preferably a metal tube and which is secured by means of a collar 12 to a base designated generally by the numeral 13. In the specific embodiment illustrated, the base 13 comprises three angularly spaced legs 13a, 13b and 13c of sufficient length to maintain the creel in position with the post 11 extending vertically without tipping during an unwinding operation and at the same time permit the creel to be readily portable.

As shown best in FIGURE 2, the post 11 is arranged to support a plurality of pivotally mounted support members or arms designated generally by the numerals 14, 14' and arranged in an alternating relationship on the post extending outwardly therefrom in opposite directions. The members 14, 14' and their associated parts are substantially identical in construction and in the following description like numerals are used to identify like parts. In the specific embodiment illustrated, four of each of the members l4, 14 are provided.

The members 114, 14- are pivotally mounted at one end to the center post 11 by means of sleeves i6, 16, respectively, suitably secured thereto by means such as welding or the like. The sleeves 16, 16 are provided with central bores 1'7, 17, respectively, for receiving the post 11. As shown best in FIGURE 3, the sleeves l6, 16' are vertically positioned for freely pivotal movement on the post 11 by means of collars l8, 18 held in a fixed position on the post 11 by means such as set screws 19, 1%, respectively. Thus, by means of the sleeves 16, 16, the members l4, 14 are supported for freely pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane on the post 11 and extend laterally therefrom in vertically spaced alternating relationship in two groups of four. In the unwinding position, all of the members 14 are pivoted into a vertically spaced overlying relationship with all of the members 14' being similarly arranged on the opposite side of the post 11 as shown.

The collar 18 has secured thereto by means such as welding or the like lugs 21, 22 circumferentially spaced to serve as stops for a downwardly extending lug 23 suitably secured by welding or the like to the sleeve 16 as shown. Support member 114 is thus free to Swing pivotally in a horizontal plane between an unwinding position and a loading position with its movement being limited in both directions by the engagement of the lug 23 with the lugs 21, 22. In a similar manner, collar 18 is provided with lugs 21', 22, which cooperate with the lugs 23' on sleeve 16 which limit the pivotal movement of member 14'.

There is shown in FIGURE 5, a portion of support member 14 and its associated parts which are substantially identical in construction to the corresponding portions of members 14 Therefore, it should be understood that the following description applies not only to all of the members 14, but also to all of the members 14'. Each of the members 14 is preferably hollow as shown comprising an inverted channel member 26 to which is suitably secured a plate 27. Aligned openings 28, 29 are provided in the channel member 26 and plate 27 respectively.

Roll supporting means are provided on the outer end of each of the members 14 which in the specific embodiment illustrated comprise a disc or turntable 30 composed of a suitable rigid material such as wood or the like. It has been found that a turntable 3t comprised of a laminated Wood gives excellent results. The turntable 3b is preferably provided with a rim 31 of metal or the like suitably secured thereto along its peripheral edge as shown.

The turntable 39 contains a central bore 32 and is positioned on the end of support member 14 with a bearing spacer 33 of suitable material therebetween. A rod 34 having a portion of reduced diameter 35 forming a shoulder 36 is inserted through the turntable bore 32 and the openings 28, 2 9' in the channel member 26 and plate 27 respectively to retain the turntable 3b for free rotation in the position shown. A collar 38 is positioned on the rod portion 35 as shown and suitably secured thereto by set screws or the like to loosely secure the turntable 36 and spacer 33 to the channel member 26 in co-operation with the rod shoulder 36.

The roll supporting means or turntable St is arranged to support a roll of strip material such as paper or the like on a vertical axis and is provided with an upstanding hub 41 composed of wood or the like. The hub 41 contains a central bore 42 and is secured to the upper surface 33a of the turntable by' means such as screws 43. The hub bore 42 receives the upper portion of the rod 34 when the turntable 3b is positioned on the support member 14. Each of the hubs 1 are inserted within the central opening in a roll of strip material such as the paper roll 44- shown in FIGURES 1 through 3 and the hubs are provided with a tapered end portion 41a to facilitate the positioning of the paper roll thereon.

Each of the turntables 3ft, 3% is provided with a plurality of relatively thin strips 4'8, 3-3, respectively, suitably secured to the upper surfaces of the turntables and radially spaced as shown. Preferably four of such strips 43 are provided and these strips serve to slightly elevate the paper rolls placed on the turntables. The strips 48 have the dual purpose of concentrating the weight of the paper roll 44 towards the center of the turntable 36' and at the same time provide a slight clearance between the paper roll &4 and the turntable upper surface to facilitate removal of the paper roll from the turntable.

In order to prevent interruption to the unwinding operation and to enable a replacement roll of paper to be spliced into the previous roll before it has become completely exhausted, extension members 51, 51 are suitably secured at one end by welding or the like to the members 14, 14', respectively, and extend laterally outward therefrom in substantially the same horizontal plane and at substantially a angle thereto. The extension members 51, 51 which are identical in construction are preferably L-shaped in cross-section as shown best in FIGURE 6 and are arranged to accommodate at their outer ends supplementary roll supporting means such as turntables or discs 52, 52', respectively. The turntables 52 52' are somewhat smaller as shown than the main turntables 34), 3d and are provided with central bores 53, 53', respectively. FIGURE 6 illustrates the construction of one of the extension members 51 with its associated parts and is representative of the construction of the other extension members 51, 51 and their associated parts. As shown therein, the supple mentary' turntable 52 is positioned for free rotation on the extension member 51 by means of a rod 54- inserted through the turntable bore 53. The rod 54 is provided with a portion 55 of reduced diameter forming a shoulder 56. The rod. portion 55 is inserted through an opening 57 in the extension member 51 and has a collar 53 secured thereto as shown by means such as set screws or the like. Thus, the turntable 52 is loosely secured for free rotation on the rod 54 between the rod shoulder 56 and the collar 58 as shown at the outer end of the extension member 51.

In the operation of the creel of the invention and particularly where the creel is to be used for the unwinding of paper rolls in a spiral paper tube winding operation, the creel is located in a suitable position adjacent the tube winding apparatus (not shown). Each of the members i 14- is pivoted individually to the loading position defined by the lugs 22, 22' on the collar l8, 18', respectively. This loading position is shown clearly in FIGURES l, 7 wherein one of the members 14 has been swung out of the tier or group of F overlying members 14 rearwardly of the creel completely clearing the remaining overlying members. Of course, the top turntables 14, 1.4 can be loaded in the unwinding position, if desired. In this loading position, a large roll 44 of paper can be positioned on the upper surf-ace 30a of turntable 30' by any suitable hoisting means and the hub 41 inserted into the central opening of the paper roll. As has been previously explained, the paper roll 44 is supported directly on the strips 48.

After the desired number of turntables 3t) have been loaded with paper rolls 44, 44, they are swung back into the unwinding position defined by the lugs 21, 21 on collars 18, .18, respectively. Paper strips P may then be unwound from the rolls 44, 24' and around upstanding guide rods 61 as shown best in FIGURE 1. The paper strips P are then turned through an angle of 90 degrees and conducted in the conventional manner through adhesive applying apparatus to the mandrel of the tube winding apparatus. The belt associated with the tube winding mandrel advances the strips while unwinding the paper rolls 44, -44 and relatively little friction is encountered as the turntables 3t), 3t)" rotate freely on the rods 34, 34 and spacers 33, 33.

In order to prevent interruption to the tube winding operation by the paper rolls 44, 44' as they are used up, the small remaining portion 44a of the roll 44 as shown best in FIGURE 7 is transferred from the hub 41 to the rod 54 after the turntable 3t) has been pivoted to the loading position with the lug 23 on sleeve 16 engaging the lug 22 on collar 18. A new roll of paper is then positioned on the turntable Bl). It will be noted that the paper strip P being unwound from the small roll 44a continues to advance toward the tube winding apparatus without interruption and moves guidably around a smooth surfaced arcuate plate 62 positioned on the inner end of the adjacent support member 14 All of the support members l4, 14' are provided with arcuate plates 62, 62, respectively, as shown. The plates 62, 62' prevent the paper strips P unwound from small rolls 44a, 44a from contacting sharp surfaces on the creel during the loading operation which would cause tearing of the strips.

A splice is then made in the well known manner with the use of adhesively coated paper or the like between the trailing end of the small roll 44a and the forward end of the new roll 44. The turntable 30 loaded with a new roll can now be swung back into the normal unwinding position with no interruption in the supplying of paper strips P to the tube winding apparatus. This roll replacing operation is repeated as each roll 44 is used on.

With the novel construction of this invention, there has been provided a novel creel particularly adapt-ed for use with spiral tube winding apparatus which positions a plurality of rolls of paper for simultaneous unwinding in a compactly arranged group. The simplicity of construction of this creel not only reduces its cost and weight, but limits the amount of floor space required by the creel so :that the creel is not only convenient to operate, but enables a reduction to be made in manufacturing costs. With the use of the creel of the invention, any desired number of paper rolls may be positioned for smooth, uniformly tensioned unwinding thereon and the creel construction permits rolls of paper to be positioned thereon with the use of conventional overhead hoisting apparatus. Two outstanding features of the creel are the ease wit which a new roll may be positioned on the creel and spliced to the preceding roll together with the ease of adjustment of the angle at which the paper strips are unwound from the paper rolls supported on the creel.

While there has been described what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention,

it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and, therefore, it is the aim of the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as {all within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A creel for supporting a plurality of rolls of strip material comprising, in combination, an upstanding post, a plurality of support members pivotally mounted at one end to said upstanding post for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane, a freely rotatable turntable mounted adjacent the outer end of each of said support membars for supporting a roll of strip material for rotation on a vertical axis, said support members extending laterally outward from said post alternatingly in opposite directions on opposite sides on said post, means on said post and each of said support members for limiting the pivotal movement of said support members on their respective sides of said post to a predetermined angular path, said support members together with said turntables being pivota-lly movable within said angular path on their respective sides of said post between an unwinding position for simultaneous unwinding of all of said rolls at one end of said angular path and a loading position at the other end of said path.

2. A creel in accordance with claim 1 including supplenientay turntables connected to each of said support members for receiving a substantially unwound roll of strip material from its associated turntables to permit the loading of a new roll on said turntables without interrupting the unwinding of said substantially unwound roll.

3. A creel for supporting a plurality of rolls of paper comprising, in combination, a base, a vertically extending post secured at its lower end to said base, a plurality of laterally extending, vertically spaced support members connected at one end to said post for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane, said support members being arranged in two groups with the support members in each of said groups arranged on said post in an alternating relationship, a vertically extending rod mounted on the outer end of each of said support members, a disc having a central bore mounted on each of said support members outer end with said rod extending through said central bore for supporting a roll of paper for free rotation thereon, said support members being pivotally movable between an unwinding position with the discs in each of said groups in an overlying, vertically aligned, spaced parallel relationship and on substantially opposite sides of said post for simultaneous unwinding of all of said rolls, and a loading position out of said overlying relationship for receiving a roll of paper, supplementary support members connected at one end to each of said support members, a freely rotatable supplementary disc mounted on the outer end of each of said supplementary support members, each of said supplementary discs being arranged to receive a substantially unwound roll of paper from its associated disc without interrupting the unwinding of said substantially unwound roll.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 109,209 Heywood Nov. 15, 1870 934,251 Weiss Sept. 14, 1909 1,180,284 Cook Apr. 25, 1916 1,518,750 Nelson Dec. 9, 1924 2,213,788 Wainwright et a1 Sept. 3, 1940 2,437,471 Moore Mar. 9, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 885,225 Germany Aug. 3, 1953 

1. A CREEL FOR SUPPORTING A PLURALITY OF ROLLS OF STRIP MATERIAL COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN UPSTANDING POST, A PLURALITY OF SUPPORT MEMBERS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ONE END TO SAID UPSTANDING POST FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE, A FREELY ROTATABLE TURNTABLE MOUNTED ADJACENT THE OUTER END OF EACH OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS FOR SUPPORTING A ROLL OF STRIP MATERIAL FOR ROTATION ON A VERTICAL AXIS, SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS EXTENDING LATERALLY OUTWARD FROM SAID POST ALTERNATINGLY IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS ON OPPOSITE SIDES ON SAID POST, MEANS ON SAID POST AND EACH OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS FOR LIMITING THE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS ON THEIR RESPECTIVE SIDES OF SAID POST TO A PREDETERMINED ANGULAR PATH, SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS TOGETHER WITH SAID TURNTABLES BEING PIVOTALLY MOVABLE WITHIN SAID ANGULAR PATH ON THEIR RESPECTIVE SIDES OF SAID POST BETWEEN AN UNWINDING POSITION FOR SIMULTANEOUS UNWINDING OF ALL OF SAID ROLLS AT ONE END OF SAID ANGULAR PATH AND A LOADING POSITION AT THE OTHER END OF SAID PATH. 